Ruins are fascinating, aren’t they? What’s been left behind tells a fragmented tale of the past — often inviting our imaginations to fill in the missing details and spaces. It doesn’t take traveling far to come upon some ruins in Virginia, whether they’re relatively recent or hundreds of years old. Anyone who’s traveled along I-64 headed West over Afton Mountain, for example, has surely seen one of the most prominent ruins in the area: the abandoned Howard Johnson’s restaurant. Here’s more on this abandoned restaurant in Virginia that has been left in ruins.

Please note: We do not condone exploring or trespassing on any abandoned sites in Virginia. 

Located along the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway in Afton, Virginia once stood a picture-perfect Howard Johnson's restaurant.
Charles Hathaway / flickr
The restaurant first opened its doors at this location around 1948 and was in business for approximately 50 years before shutting its doors. One can imagine that it was a welcome sight among travelers and hikers looking for a hearty meal.
Charles Hathaway / flickr
The particular photographer who captured these photos, Charles Hathaway, noted that getting inside was a daring and dangerous task. As you can see, there's a lot of furniture that apparently came from the also abandoned Inn at Afton.
Charles Hathaway / flickr

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The restaurant was part of the larger Afton Mountain Complex, along with the inn, which also included a motor court.
Charles Hathaway / flickr
Perhaps one of the saddest aspects of these abandoned sites is just how beautiful the real estate is. When the businesses were thriving, visitors would rave about the surrounding scenery.
Charles Hathaway / flickr
While there has been talk of repair, it seems that progress is slow and could take years.
Charles Hathaway / flickr
We can only hope that one day, there will be another restaurant and even an inn to welcome travelers to this beautiful corner of our state.
Charles Hathaway / flickr

What are your thoughts on this abandoned restaurant in Virginia? Have you ever seen this particular site? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments below — we would love to hear from you! For related content, check out our list of fascinating abandoned places in Virginia.

And don’t forget to check out this list of beautiful vacation rentals near Afton, Virginia!

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Afton Mountain, Virginia 22952, USA